A comedian was asked at a premiere about a film that does not yet exist, and he answered with a playful refusal to say yes or no. Behind the joke lies a familiar human pull: after a stretch of fear and division, many people long for something gentler, and an old spy spoof may be a place to look for it. Yet the franchise has always found its laughs in absurdity rather than in headlines, and whether a silly hero can carry a serious mood into a new film remains an open question that only a script, not a press line, can answer.
Mike Myers Teases Political Angle for 'Austin Powers 4'; Critic Says Going Political Would Be 'Foolish'
"I can neither confirm nor deny" political commentary in a fourth Austin Powers
Mark
Myers was asked about a movie that hasn't been confirmed. Why is this a story?
Mimi
Because his answer was a tease. He wouldn't confirm or deny political commentary, but he said the film would be about love, and that people are sick of fear.
Mark
He also called himself a lefty. Does that settle what the film will be?
Luke
No. He said he's a progressive voter, but his stated plan is love and silliness, not a political target. What the film contains is unknown, and the source says no script or greenlight has been confirmed.
Mark
Christian Toto says going political would be foolish. What's his case?
Mimi
Two parts. The first three films weren't political, and he doesn't think fans want, say, an Austin Powers at a No Kings rally. The second is timing: films take long to make, so topical jokes can go stale.
Luke
Worth noting that's one critic's opinion and prediction, not audience data. He also admits he doesn't know if a script exists.
Mark
Is there evidence for the staleness worry?
Mimi
The Pentaverate in 2022. Cracked said it leaned on a Hillary emails reference nobody had made since 2017.
Luke
That's one outlet's review, and reviews were mixed overall. It's a fair data point, not proof about a film nobody has written.
Mark
So what's actually established?
Luke
Myers's words at the premiere, his earlier satire of Musk, and Toto's reading. Everything about the film's content is still speculation.
O Pulso
- A premiere-night question about a fourth Austin Powers film met a deliberately evasive joke from Mike Myers.
- Myers framed the moment as a turn from fear toward love, linking the film to post-midterm political shifts.
- Critic Christian Toto pushed back, arguing the franchise has been apolitical and that political rallies would alienate fans.
- Toto warned that films take years to make, so any topical political jokes could look stale by release.
- No script or greenlight has been confirmed, leaving the film as speculation between a teasing actor and a skeptical critic.
A comedian was asked at a premiere about a film that does not yet exist, and he answered with a playful refusal to say yes or no. Behind the joke lies a familiar human pull: after a stretch of fear and division, many people long for something gentler, and an old spy spoof may be a place to look for it. Yet the franchise has always found its laughs in absurdity rather than in headlines, and whether a silly hero can carry a serious mood into a new film remains an open question that only a script, not a press line, can answer.
At the premiere of "Focker-In-Law," Mike Myers was asked by a Variety interviewer whether a possible fourth "Austin Powers" film would reflect the current political landscape. He answered with a joke, saying he could neither confirm nor deny such commentary. He added that the world has been turbulent, but Austin's world is happier, and that movies need more silliness. In his view, fear has run its course and love is returning, a sentiment he tied to recent midterm results.
When pressed about the "blue wave," Myers said the message was not about left or right, though he acknowledged his own progressive politics. He said people are tired of fear and want more love, and he quoted Burt Bacharach's line that what the world needs now is love, sweet love. That, he said, is why he wanted to make the film now.
Film critic Christian Toto, who spoke with Fox News Digital, read the answer as a partial dodge. He said the first three films were not political at all and that fans come for silly comedy, not rallies. He hoped the film would simply be funny. He also noted a practical problem: unlike late-night shows that riff on the news the same day, feature films take far longer to make, and political jokes could feel dated by release.
Myers' recent work, including the miniseries "The Pentaverate," drew mixed reviews, with some critics finding its political humor stale. For now, no script or greenlight has been confirmed. What exists is a premiere-night remark and a critic's doubt.
At the premiere of "Focker-In-Law," the latest entry in the "Meet the Parents" franchise, Mike Myers was asked a question about a movie that does not yet exist. A Variety interviewer wanted to know whether a fourth "Austin Powers" film would reflect the current political landscape. Myers answered with a joke: he could neither confirm nor deny the existence or nonexistence of such commentary.
He went on to say that the world has happened, but that Austin's world is a much happier one, and that he is enjoying being in it. At the premiere he also said that movies need more silliness, and that in the last few weeks, in his view, fear has had it and love is on the way back. His comments came shortly after Democrats scored victories in the midterm elections.
The interviewer pressed, asking whether he meant the wave of happiness, the blue wave. Myers said it was not about left or right, though he added that he is a lefty, a Canadian and a lifelong progressive voter. He said he thinks people are sick of fear and want more love, and that this is what the new "Austin Powers" movie will be about. He quoted Burt Bacharach, whose music appeared in the films and who made cameos in the franchise, calling him a great American poet: what the world needs now is love, sweet love. That, Myers said, is why he wanted to make the film at this moment.
The franchise parodies classic James Bond movies and the spy genre. Myers himself has grown more outspoken about politics in recent years. He parodied Elon Musk on "Saturday Night Live" and has criticized President Donald Trump's efforts to bring Canada under U.S. control. In a 2025 interview with The New York Times, while Musk was involved with the Department of Government Efficiency, Myers said fascism does not like to be ridiculed and prefers to be feared. Satire, he said, is a tool for saying that something is not normal, including the cuts Musk was making.
Fox News Digital asked film critic Christian Toto, host of the "Hollywood in Toto" podcast, about the remarks. Toto praised the earlier films as fun comedies but doubted fans want politics in them. He said he does not think the first three films were political at all, and he could not imagine a fan wanting Austin Powers back only if he attends a No Kings rally. In his view Myers would be foolish to go that way, and Toto does not think he will.
Toto read Myers' answer as a partial dodge: he took the bait and didn't quite take it. Myers left things open, saying anything goes, but leaned on the idea of making people laugh and offering a little more love and fun. Toto said that, given the apolitical track record, that is what to expect, and that he simply hopes the film is funny if it happens.
He also pointed to a practical problem. Late-night television can riff on a headline the same day, but films take far longer to make. Toto said he does not know whether a script is even ready. Jokes about ICE or Trump written now, he warned, could look stale by release and make an older property look dusty.
Myers' recent work gives that worry some footing. His 2022 miniseries "The Pentaverate," which parodied conspiracy theories about secret societies, drew mixed reviews, and some critics found its political humor dated. Cracked wrote at the time that it felt as though Myers had not been on earth for several years, citing a reference to Hillary Clinton's emails that nobody had made since 2017. The site pleaded that any new "Austin Powers" be better.
No script or greenlight for a fourth film has been confirmed. For now, what exists is a premiere-night answer and a critic's skepticism.
Citações Notáveis
I just think we're sick of fear, and we want more love. And, if anything, that's what the 'Austin Powers' movie is gonna be about.— Mike Myers
I think Mike Myers would be foolish to go in that direction, and I don't think he will.— Christian Toto, host of the "Hollywood in Toto" podcast
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